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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | Netta | 12410 | ||
Define Faith. | ||||||
2 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | charis | 12411 | ||
Dear Netta, The Bible gives us a very clear, succinct definition of faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 NASB. This is enough... In Jesus' name, charis |
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3 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | Lionstrong | 12550 | ||
Like Paul's description of the nature of love in his letter to the Corinthians, the passage in Hebrews is about the nature of faith. It is not a definition of faith just a Paul's description was not a definition of love. First, one somewhat confusing issue is English. It's easier to see in Greek. Faith is the noun form of the verb believe. So faith is either the act of believing or the object of what is believed. To believe means to accept as true an understood proposition (statement). And saving faith is to accept as true the understood propositions of God as revealed in the Scriptures concerning the redemptive work of Christ. Acts 16:30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Peace, Lionstrong |
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4 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | charis | 12552 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Frankly, I fail to see the point or significance of differentiating between 'description of the nature of' and 'definition of.' In fact, just saying that faith equals 'to believe' just brings us back to the need for elaboration. Hebrews 11:1 provides that elaboration, using the descriptive words 'assurance' and 'conviction,' and adding the all-important 'things not seen' (or, available to the natural senses). Therefore, I stand upon this Scripture as the means by which God causes us to better understand what faith is. In modern English, 'believe' is often used to merely mean 'think' or 'have an opinion.' This is woefully insufficient. Grace to you. In Jesus' name, charis |
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5 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | Lionstrong | 34256 | ||
Charis, What I mean by "description of the nature of faith" is that this verse tells us ABOUT faith, but it does not tell us its meaning. "A dog is man's best friend" is (aside from the truth of this statement:)) telling us something about dogs, but it is not a definition. A definition would be something like, "a hairy four-legged mammal that barks and bites mailmen." When God tell us that faith brings assurance and conviction of our hope in Christ, He is in deed telling us something about saving faith, yes, but He is not giving us a definition of this important term. He is saying that this ought to be the EFFECT of true saving faith. This agrees with what Paul says in Rom 5:1-5. True faith results in hope. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. The test of a definition is to substitute the word with the definition. Try it, and you'll see that Heb 11:1 does not fit. It wasn't meant to; it is not a definition. If this verse were a definition then faith is a certain kind of assurance and a certain kind of conviction, which does not fit the way Paul uses the term in his epistles. While these things accompany saving faith (like good works) they are not what saving faith is. Peace, Lionstrong |
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6 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | charis | 34270 | ||
Dear Lionstrong, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Lionstrong your name, but Elephant your memory and Bulldog your tenacity! How's that for a description? :-) I am tempted to say, "Whatever!" But I will instead say that Hebrews 11:1 describes faith, to me! Simple me, I really don't get your point, though you make it so eloquently. Merriam-Webster: Faith- A belief and trust in and loyalty to God. Firm belief in something fro which there is no proof. Complete trust. Sounds a lot like Hebrews 11:1 to me! Brother, I don't deny your *expansion* of my description. I just don't get why it is not a description. Merriam-Webster: Description- An act of describing. Discourse intended to give a mental image of something experienced. For some strange reason, Hebrews 11:1 describes faith to me! Maybe I'm psychic! :-) Peace and blessings in Christ Jesus, charis |
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7 | Define Faith. | Heb 11:1 | Lionstrong | 34298 | ||
Thanks for your response, Charis Maybe you don't see that what's given in Heb 11:1 is not a definition. OK. Maybe later. In the meantime, Peace, Lionstrong |
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